Combination warm-air cleaner and heat converter



1,638,605 A 1927' 1.. M. THORSQN ET AL COMBINATION WARM AIR CLEANER AND HEAT CONVERTER Filed 00%..28. 1926 Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LABS M. THORSON AND KENNETH B. WARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. I

COMBINATION WARM-AIR CLEANER AND HEAT CONVERTER.

Application filed October 28, 1926. Serial No. 144,825.

Our invention relates to improvements in a combination warm air cleaner and heat converter of the type adapted for use in connection with warm air registers supplied with warm air from a furnace or other source; and the objects of our improvements are: first, to convert a portion of the convected heat, supplied by warm air from any source, to radiated heat; second, to increase the humidity of the Warm air carrying the remaining unconverted convected heat; thlrd, to clean the warm air; fourth, to deflect the warm air, carrying convected heat, in an approximately horizontal dlrection; fifth, to provide a warm air radiator, whereby radiated heat may be transmitted in all directions from a unit or device supplied wlth warm air; sixth, to provide means for extractin carbon monoxide gas in small quantities from warm air supplied by any source; seventh, to save a part of the fuel otherwise required; eighth, to improve the prophylactic quality of warm air supplled from any source; ninth, to conserve heat by insulating the back and any other part as desired; and tenth, to provide an effective means for preventing the smudging and rapid deterioration of interior decorating, wall paper, and other objectsadjacent to warm air registers. These and other ObJects are attained by the means herein described and disclosed in the accompanying drawings. One form of our invention is illustrated y way of example in the accompanying drawin in which:

ig. 1 is a perspectlve vlew of the entire device; V

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectlon of the entire device; and v Fig. 3 is a fragmentalhonzontal sect on through the heat collecting and radiat ng element, this view being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and on a larger scale.

Although, for the purpose of illustratlng a practical application of our devlce, we have shown it in Fig. 2 in associatlon with a floor register 11, it will be understood that in practice our device is not to be confined to this particular use, but may be employed in connection with any suitable warm air outlet or any suitable structure for discharging or distributing warm air.

Our device in its preferred embodiment. comprises a box-like metal body or duct,

' porting designated generally by the numeral 12, the

, radiating element 13 is of serpentine format'ion, being bent inwardly and outwardly into a series of folds 19 to provide deep vertically extending inside pockets 20, and the opposing inside faces of the folds have projecting portions 21 which serve as means for delaying the up-going air currents so that the heat borne thereby may be transmitted to the folds for radiation. The series of pockets are in open communication with the interior of the body or duct at their bottom ends 22,- at their top ends 22' and at their interior sides 23. Brackets 24 provide supmeans for the water pan 14. The perforated wick fabric sheet 15 is stretched over a bar 25 in such a manner that its two lower edges 26 will be immersed in water 27 when the water pan contains water. 'Small bars 28 may be used to provide weights for holding down the edges 26. The perforated wick fabric sheet 15 may be of any absorbent material capable of raising water by capillary attraction. V

The curved 'front piece 29 is a battle used to cause warm air rising upwardly within the device and from the pockets to be deflected through the perforated wick fabric sheet 15. This battle 29 is hinged at 30 to facilitate the placing and replacing of the water pan 14. The top 31 is hinged at the back edge 32 in order to permit the convenient refilling of the Water pan by any convenient means.

There the device is to be'used in connection with a register located near a wall, the

back 33 may be heat insulated by providing a thickness of cellular gypsum 34 or any other suitable heat insulating material.

1 he device is preferably constructed of sheet metal except as herein otherwise specified. but may be made of any other material possessing the requisite structural and physical properties. The device is preferably made ofornate design in order to harmonize with various kinds and types of furniture.

through the inlet opening 16 and rises up-.

wardly in the direction of the arrows through the pockets 20 where the projecting portions 21 retard the rise of the air suftic-icntly to permit some of the heat borne thereby to be transferred to the metal ra diating element 13 and hence dissipated through the adjacent outside air. In this way a part of the convected heat will be absorbed, and converted into radiated heat which will travel largely in horizontal directions and thus heat the adjacent objects. Obviously, this operation cools the air carry ing the remaining convected heat and since such air will not rise so rapidly, it can be' more successfully deflected in a horizontal direction. From the vertical pockets, the

warm air passes through the perforated wick fabric sheets, being directed therethrough by the top baffle 29. Preferably and as shown, the wick fabric sheet is so' made or so positioned that the perforations of its adjacent runs will be out of alme- -ment. In passing through the perforated wick fabric sheet, the warm air is automatically cleaned and to some extent moistened in case it happens to be dry. The

, cleaned air then rises and is deflected by the top 31 towards the front of the device where it is-discharged into thev room through the outlet opening 18in an approximately hOIlzontal direction as indicated by the arrows. A- change in the location of the inlet opening 16 may be required to adapt the device for use in connection with baseboard or wall registers.

he perforated wick fabric sheet can be replaced easily whenever it requ res cleanin The water pan can be conveniently filled by lifting the top or cover 31 and addin the required water. I

ile we have shown and described only oneform of our invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it, is our intention to claim all novelty. inherent in our invention as broadly as possible in view of the prior art.

' What we regard as new, and desire to secure b Letters Patent, is:

1. A evice of the kind described comprising a duct body havingan air inlet opening. arranged to cover a'warm air' register, and

an outlet opening arranged to discharge warm air in approximately horizontal directions; and a radiating element forminga wall of the duct body and provided with folds forming a series of air pockets between said openings.

2. A device of the. kind described comprising a duct body having an air inlet opening arranged to cover a warm air register, and an air outlet opening; a radiating element forming a wall of the duct body and provided with folds forming a series ,of air pockets betweerr said openings; and acute, heatcollecting projections on said folds extending into said air pockets.

A device of the kind described coinprising a duct body having air inlet and outlet openings; a radiating element forming a wall of the duct body and providedwith folds forming a series of air pockets between said openings; and a moisture carrying sheet pervious to air arranged in the path of the air-between said pockets and the outlet open 111g. i

4. A device of the kind described comprising a duct body having air inlet and outlet openings; a radiating element forming a wall of the duct body and provided with folds forming a series of air pockets between said openings; heatcollecting projections on said folds extending into said pockets; and

a moisture carrying sheet pervious to air arranged in the path of the air'between said pockets andthe outlet opening.

5. A device of the kind described comprising an upright duct body having a lower inlet opening. and an upper outlet openin a radlatnng element forming a wall of t e duct body .and having a series of jutting folds forming a series of air pockets up wardly extending along the passageway between said inlet and outlet openings; a water pan extending transversely of semi pockets in the passageway between the inlet and outlet openings; and a perforated moisture carrying sheet extending into said pan and arranged rose the air path between said series of pockets and said outlet opening.

6. A device of the kind described comprising a duct body enclosing an; up-going air passageway with a lower inlet opening and an upper outlet opening; a radiating element forming a wall of, the duct body below the outlet'opening' and having a series of jutting folds forming a series of air pockets opening into said passageway; a water pan partly closing said passageway adjacent said pockets; a bafile structure at the upiper ends of said pockets; and a erforate moisture carrying sheet depen ing from said baflie structure and entering said water pan.

7. In combination with a duct body en-'- Closing an up'going p s geway; of a wall included in said bod n haying a series of folds extending into said pgsga away; a water pan obstructin said passageway opposite said folds; a afile structure extending into said passageway and overhanging said folds; and a moisture carrying sheet pervious to air extending from within said water pan to said baflie structure whereby to moisten and clean the air passing from said folds into said passageway.

8. In combination, a duct body enclosing an air passageway containing a Water pan, a perforated absorbent fabric, and abaflie supporting said fabric; said duct body having an inlet opening adapted to cover a warm air register, and an outlet opening; said perforated absorbent fabric having two opposite edges immersed in water in said pan, and arranged to form a plurality of moisture yielding dust collecting screens across said passageway; and said baflie extending across said duct, partly closing said passageway and arranged tocompel warm airto pass through said screens.

9. In combination, a duct body enclosing an air passagewa containing a water pan, a perforated wick abric and supporting means therefor; said duct body having an inlet opening adapted to cover the openings of a warm air register, and an outlet opening; said wick fabric having one edge held within said Water pan and arranged to form a dust arresting screen across said passageway; and a radiating element having heat collecting projections extending into said passageway and constructed of folds constituting outside parts of said duct body.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

- LARS M. THORSON.

KENNETH WARD. 

